Genotyping and clonal origin of Sporothrix brasiliensis in human sporotrichosis cases in Argentina

Abstract

Sporothrix brasiliensis is considered a highly virulent emerging pathogen that causes sporotrichosis in humans, mainly after zoonotic transmission from infected cats. The epidemic of this zoonosis that originated from Brazil has spread in the last decades, generating hyperendemic regions in Latin America. We present two cases of human sporotrichosis causes by S. brasiliensis in Buenos Aires, Argentina, with good clinical response to differing treatments after contact with sick cats. Using Short tandem repeat (STR) genotyping, the two S. brasiliensis cases appear to be introduced from Brazil and likely originate from the same source.